Peach tree named &#39;p.f. lucky 13&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of peach,  Prunus persica,  tree having the following unique combination of desirable features:  
     1. Producing a very firm fruit that can best be described as “crunchy” when bitten into when firm ripe.  
     2. The limbs of the tree naturally grow at wide angles creating a wide-spreading tree.  
     3. A substantially spherical fruit with yellow flesh having red around the pit.  
     4. A midseason peach variety that matures after Redhaven and which hangs on the tree for many days staying extremely firm.  
     5. A peach variety that has excellent storage and shelf life.

ORIGIN OF VARIETY

[0001] The new peach tree (hereinafter referred to as the P. F. Lucky 13peach tree) was originated by Paul Friday in the experimental orchard,which is maintained for the purpose of breeding peach trees, at PaulFriday Farms Inc., located in Coloma, Mich. Coloma is located in thesouthwest section of Michigan.

[0002] In an ongoing mass selection breeding program, superior seedlingsof unrecorded parentage are maintained as seed sources for theproduction of seeds which are collected and planted in mass. The seedproducing parent trees are maintained solely as proprietary trees forbreeding purposes and have not been released from the experimentalorchard, where such trees can be evaluated for their adaptability tolocal and regional growing conditions. Seeds resulting from openpollination of the trees in the experimental orchard are regularlyplanted in mass to produce new populations of seedlings which arecultured and monitored to maturity. Trees with superior attributes areretained for further observation and testing, and contribute seeds toadvancing generations of new populations of seedlings.

[0003] The tree of this application, P. F. Lucky 13, was a selectionfrom one such a seedling population, and was based on the numeroussuperior genetic attributes of this tree which are described in thebotanical description to follow. While not comprehensive, the details ofthe botanical description to follow are believed to be a reasonablycomplete botanical description of the tree of this disclosure.

ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION OF THE VARIETY

[0004] The new and distinct variety of peach tree was asexuallypropagated by budding as performed in the experimental orchard of PaulFriday Farms Inc., located in Coloma, Mich. The asexual propagationdemonstrates that such reproduction of the characteristics of the treeare consistent and are established and transmitted through succeedingpropagation.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

[0005] The new and distinct variety of peach tree is of semi-dwarfmoderate upright growth and a regular and productive bearer of peaches.A distinct characteristic of the P. F. Lucky 13 peach tree is its mediumvigor having very stubby new growth with short internodes. The buds aregenerally 1 inch apart on the new growth. The blossoms bloom inmid-season and are characterized by being contracted or partially spreadin a ¾-inch diameter during full bloom. At the same time the petals ofthe blossoms are of lesser length than the length of petals of thenormal showy blossom as exemplified by the Loring peach blossom.

[0006] The flesh of the fruit of the present peach tree is firm and isyellow.

[0007] The skin is smooth having moderate to little down and is of darkred color over about sixty percent to eighty percent (60% to 80%) of itssurface at maturity. The red color overlays yellow. Where the red mergeswith the yellow, the yellow is mottled with the red to a clear lightyellow. At maturity the peach is spherical having an average diameter ofabout 2¾″.

[0008] The fruit has a firm flesh and may be described as resilient tothe extent that the flesh is yieldable and restorable to its originalstate when subjected to impact forces which may cause bruising and softblemishes which lead to rejection by the buyer in the fresh market inpeaches of the commercial varieties. The firmness of the fruitfacilitates handling and packaging of the peaches without damaging thesame for shipment. This results in less spoilage and also increases theshelf life.

[0009] The fruit matures in the earlier part of the peach growing seasonof southwestern Michigan. The fruit as mentioned heretofore is of redcolor over about sixty percent to eighty percent (60% to 80%) of itssurface and has a very attractive appearance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

[0010] In the accompanying photographic illustrations, the topphotograph shows the trunk of a five-year-old tree depicting the mediumsizes of trunk and branches. It also shows the naturally occurringwide-angle crotches.

[0011] The bottom photograph shows a half-bushel basket of wholepeaches. The large size of the fruit is apparent as it takes so fewfruit to fill the face of the basket. A single peach has been split on aplane ninety degrees to the suture plane to depict the fruit flesh incross section, the clear yellow flesh, freestone characteristic, andbright red color around the pit.

DESCRIPTION OF VARIETY

[0012] The detailed botanical description of the foliage and fruit ofthe new variety of peach tree is based upon observations of thespecimens grown at Coloma, Mich. with the color terminology, other thanthe terminology expressed in common terms, in accordance with thePanatone Matching System (PMS) as used internationally to identifyprinted colors.

[0013] Tree:

[0014]Height.—Unpruned 12′.

[0015]Width.—Unpruned 10′.

[0016]Size.—Medium.

[0017]Vigor.—Medium.

[0018]Density.—Medium.

[0019]Form.—Spreading with naturally formed wide-angle crotches.

[0020]Production.—Productive — approximately two-thirds of the fruitmust be removed annually to produce good size.

[0021]Bearer.—Consistent.

[0022]Disease resistance to bacterial leaf and fruit spot.—Very good.

[0023] Trunk:

[0024]Bark.—Gray.

[0025]Size.—Medium.

[0026]Surface.—Smooth.

[0027] Branches:

[0028]Size.—Medium to thin.

[0029]Surface.—Medium.

[0030]Lenticels.—Medium number and length {fraction (2/16)}″ to{fraction (5/16)}″.

[0031] Leaves:

[0032]Size.—Average length 6″ — average width 1⅞″.

[0033]Form.—Lanceolate — pointed.

[0034]Thickness.—Medium.

[0035]Texture.—Medium.

[0036]Margin.—Finely serrated.

[0037]Petiole.—Medium length — medium thickness.

[0038]Gland.—Varies from 1 to 5 — usually 2 — one on either side of baseof leaf or upper portion of petiole.

[0039]Gland color.—Yellow.

[0040]Color.—Upper surface green — lower surface dull green.

[0041] Flower buds:

[0042]Size.—Medium.

[0043]Length.—Medium.

[0044] Flowers:

[0045]Blooming period.—May 3, 2001 to May 6, 2001.

[0046]Size.—Non-showy petals — about ¾″ diameter.

[0047]Pollen.—Present, self-fertilizing.

[0048]Color.—Light pink.

[0049] Fruit:

[0050]Maturity when described.—Firm ripe.

[0051]Date of first picking.—Aug. 5, 2001.

[0052]Date of last picking.—Aug. 15, 2001.

[0053]Size.—Large — average diameter 2¾″.

[0054]Form.—Spherical.

[0055]Suture.—Not pronounced — stays very firm.

[0056] Skin:

[0057]Thickness.—Medium.

[0058]Texture.—Medium.

[0059]Tendency to crack.—None.

[0060]Down.—Light.

[0061]Color.—White-yellow ground color (100) — nearly overspread (60% to80%) with red (214 to 215).

[0062] Flesh:

[0063]Texture.—Extremely firm, non-melting, free of fiber.

[0064]Ripens.—Evenly.

[0065]Flavor.—Good.

[0066]Aroma.—Pleasant.

[0067]Eating quality.—Good.

[0068]Color.—Light yellow (100) — pit cavity bright red (214).

[0069] Stone:

[0070]Type.—Very freestone.

[0071]Size.—Approximately 1½″ long — Approximately 1″ wide —Approximately ¾″ thick.

[0072]Form.—Ovid.

[0073]Base.—Straight.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of peach tree substantially as illustrated and described as a medium size tree with a distinct short stubby growth pattern, a consistent bearer of highly colored, large fruit for the early to mid peach growing season, said fruit at maturity being of spherical shape with firm flesh and red skin color covering 60% to 80% of the fruit, said maturity occurring about one week after the Redhaven peach. 